Cover device for a drink container

Abstract

A cover device ( 2 ) for a drink container comprises a basic assembly ( 9 ) which is provided with a drink opening ( 32 ), and a valve arrangement ( 20 ) for blocking or unblocking a passage to the drink opening ( 32 ) from a drink container side of the cover device ( 2 ). The valve arrangement ( 20 ) comprises a valve element ( 26 ) having two portions ( 27, 28 ) which are connected to each other through an area of the valve element ( 26 ) at a position where the valve element ( 26 ) is hingably associated with the basic assembly ( 9 ), and wherein only one of the two portions ( 27, 28 ) is in direct communication with the drink opening ( 32 ) of the basic assembly ( 9 ), so that a smallest total moment of force may be realized on the one portion ( 28 ) when the valve element ( 26 ) is subjected to pressure from the drink container side of the cover device ( 2 ).

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A cover device for a drink container, the cover device comprising:
 a basic assembly that includes a housing with a spout portion, the housing having a locally supporting hinge contact surface portion, and the spout portion having a drink opening; and 
 a valve arrangement that comprises a valve element having first and second portions which are integral with each other through an area of the valve element that corresponds with a position of the locally supporting hinge contact surface portion in response to the valve element being hingably associated with the basic assembly at the locally supporting hinge contact surface portion, wherein only the first portion of the valve element is configured for being directly influenced, via a passage to the drink opening, to block or unblock the passage to the drink opening, wherein the second portion of the valve element is not configured for being directly influenced, via the passage to the drink opening, to block or unblock the passage to the drink opening, and wherein the first and second portions of the valve element are configured in size, position, and orientation for (i) assuming a leakproof closed state that includes the valve element having a smaller total moment of force on the first portion of the valve element than on the second portion of the valve element in response to the valve element being subjected to an overpressure prevailing at a side of the cover device adapted to face the drink container, and (ii) assuming an open state in response to the valve element being subjected to an underpressure prevailing from a side of the cover device having the drink opening. 
 
     
     
       2. The cover device according to  claim 1 , wherein the first portion of the valve element is smaller than the second portion of the valve element. 
     
     
       3. The cover device according to  claim 1 , wherein the first portion of the valve element comprises a projecting edge portion for contacting a surface portion of the basic assembly, wherein the valve arrangement assumes the closed state in response to the projecting edge portion making contact with the surface portion of the basic assembly, and wherein the valve arrangement assumes the open state in response to the projecting edge portion being separated at a distance from the surface portion of the basic assembly. 
     
     
       4. The cover device according to  claim 1 , wherein the valve element comprises flexible material. 
     
     
       5. The cover device according to  claim 1 , wherein the first portion of the valve element comprises a ring-shaped portion at a side of an inner periphery of the valve element, and wherein the second portion of the valve element comprises a ring-shaped portion at a side of an outer periphery of the valve element. 
     
     
       6. An assembly of a drink container and the cover device according to  claim 1 , wherein the cover device is removably attached to the drink container.